I’m 5’7" so BR works for me. I haven’t liked the styles as much in last year or so, but still buy some things there.
Athleta is awesome.
I think Chico’s did change. I don’t go near it anymore. I consider it for old ladies who are a lot larger than I am.
I buy a lot at Limited. I get great professional and business casual wear there and they are always discounting the stuff. I think JCrew has gone way down in quality (and confirmed by the Wall Street Journal write ups). I like Madewell, which is a JCrew company but better. I am 63 but like to dress on the young side, admittedly.
@Pizzagirl …funny you should mention resale and Nic and Zoe. I had never heard of the brand before, but tried on a really cute jacket by them at a resale store this morning. I loved it, but noticed it wasn’t fitting just quite right…then saw it was a petite medium and I’m 5’8"…boo. It was only $16, too. I have some wonderful resale and consignment stores where I live. Yes…I forgot to mention I frequent those many times, first. Just picked up a beautiful Ann Taylor sweater in a deep turquoise to wear over skinny black jeans for $16, also.
Well, consensus is Chicos has changed and its not my imagination. I will still deginitely buy their sleeveless tanks, jewelry and will continue to pop in when I walk by. Their long sleeve T’s in a zillion colors have always been wonderful.
I would like to shop with Pizzagirl. I used to love J Crew but as MOWC notes, the quality is not great now. I have a jacket from them that is over 20 years old and is in great shape - more recent purchases are not going to stand the test of time.
I just saw a ton of stuff at Athleta that I loved - unfortunately it was after I had exhausted Mr. Sabaray’s patience shopping for athletic wear! I often wonder if I’m too old for some brands so it’s nice to see others my age are still buying there.
Chico’s is the “go to” store for my MIL. She’s going to be…93 next month. Let’s also say that she is a bit “zaftig.” 
About7 years ago my sister wore a pretty Chico’s outfit to Christmas Eve church and an 80 year old woman in the pew behind us had the exact same outfit on! She cooled off on Chico’s then.
Do any of you Athleta fans shop at www.titlenine.com ?
I purchased one thing from Title Nine, and had to send it back. I doubt I will purchase from them again as they don’t have a free return policy. I only have one thing from Athleta, a dress I bought last summer on sale, and I LOVE it. I get so many compliments on it, I’m glad I snagged it online. To be honest, I don’t look very good in tights or yoga pants. I have a terrible looking bum and these just seem to accentuate it. I’m not really that athletic either, so I feel guilty wearing all this stuff. I do like their dresses though, but haven’t purchased anything but the one. I decided last summer I enjoyed wearing dresses more than shorts to knock around in. I think I will be a customer more in the summer.
I think I just had an “ah hah” moment. I think Chicos has decided to fill the niche or void that Coldwater Creek left with the more mature women. I never saw them in our Chicos except for in the past few years, as they were all in Coldwater Creek just a few doors down.
I would have died if I saw an 80 year old lady with the same outfit on! Yep, that would do it for me.
@Kajon - uh-oh. You intrigued me, so I looked for it. All gone.
I have shopped online at Title 9. A lot of what they carry is from other manufacturers like Patagonia. They have some private labeled things, too. I like Athleta a lot, but tend more towards Lululemon or Oiselle for my athletic gear.
I didn’t read the entire thread, but is no one else annoyed by their sizes? I’m 53 and like some of their clothes, but I don’t have time to memorize store-specific sizing…just seems silly!
That’s why I like clothes made in Italy. Size 42 always fits. 
Now, some US sellers translate it into 8, some into 6, so you have to know who does what. I wish they would just use the original sizing in the links.
I do a lot of shopping online. It is not always easy to figure out sizing, but the selection is so much better than what I can find in local stores.
“I would like to shop with Pizzagirl. I used to love J Crew but as MOWC notes, the quality is not great now. I have a jacket from them that is over 20 years old and is in great shape - more recent purchases are not going to stand the test of time.”
You’d be bored! I’m really not a big clothing shopper in general. I try to invest in nice quality clothing and wear it for years on end. I’m also trying to simplify and streamline the whole thing.
I agree that Chico’s has changed their target demographic in the 15 years there has been one near my house. I shopped there at 45, but recently (at 60) realized I was the youngest in the store. I have never been a huge fan, but have sometimes found some great stuff. I wore one of their dresses yesterday that I’ve had for years - updated with black leggings and flats and got a lot of compliments.
What if the 80 yr old was well dressed and elegant? Maybe you should be trying to live up to HER standard! My mother is 92, and frankly I would love to be able to wear her clothes.
Clearly, I’m one of those 60+ not-thin-enough rejects who should just slink off and die.
Anyone else getting the chicos banner now?
I bought a black faux leather jacket with suede fringe at Chico’s in October. This is not something your typical 60 yo would wear! I pair it with a white shirt or tee, grey leggings from soft surroundings and tall boots. My husband calls me a “hot chick” when I wear it – and I feel about 30.
I hate the store-specific sizing too. Never really shopped there for that reason.
I can sometimes score at BR petite a. Elle Tahari is a favorite. I also,got a pink plaid shirt and my black fringe bag at Polo shop. It’s been years since I bought at Ann Taylor. Occasionally, Black/white. While I don’t like department stores, I check out Nordstrums for shoes and Bloomies.
"I would have died if I saw an 80 year old lady with the same outfit on! Yep, that would do it for me.
What if the 80 yr old was well dressed and elegant? Maybe you should be trying to live up to HER standard! My mother is 92, and frankly I would love to be able to wear her clothes.
Clearly, I’m one of those 60+ not-thin-enough rejects who should just slink off and die."
Certainly there are well-dressed and elegant 80 yo’s (and 90 yo’s, for that matter). My grandmother is 96 and I should only look so good at her age!.
I do think there is a look that a lot of older women put themselves into, however, with a lot of very flowy stuff intended to cover the inevitable sag and pooch, which is actually less flattering than if they were to wear something more tailored / structured. I also think a lot of older women tend to put on the “bling”, statement necklaces, etc. to try to distract others from the sag and pooch, when in fact they’d look more elegant and put together wearing more solids and classic lines.
Again, there’s a lot of distance in between “slink off and die” and “mutton dressed as lamb.”
Alumother (amidprivilege) writes a nice blog on dressing at this age range (I think she’s late 50’s). Of course she has a nice figure which always helps!!